Vancouver Royals

Last updated

Vancouver Royal Canadians
Vancouver Royals.png
Full nameVancouver Royal Canadians
Nickname(s)Royals
Founded1967;57 years ago (1967)
Dissolved1968;56 years ago (1968)
Stadium Empire Stadium
Capacity32,729
OwnersBrig. General E.G. Eakins,
George Fleharty
League North American Soccer League
1968 West Division: 4th
Playoffs: Did not qualify

The Vancouver Royals were a Canadian professional soccer team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Founded in 1967 as the Vancouver Royal Canadians, they were a charter member of the United Soccer Association (USA), and when the USA and rival National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) merged in 1968 to form the North American Soccer League (NASL), the team, rebranded as the Royals, moved to the new league. The Royals played its home matches at the Empire Stadium. The team folded at the conclusion of the 1968 NASL season.

Contents

History

In 1966 several groups of entrepreneurs were exploring the idea of forming a professional soccer league in United States. One of these groups, United Soccer Association (USA) led by Jack Kent Cooke, selected 12 cities for team locations with Vancouver franchise purchased by Brigadier General E.G. Eakins. The USA originally planned to start play in the spring of 1968; however the rival National Professional Soccer League, which secured a TV contract from CBS, announced it was ready to launch in 1967. Not wanting to let the rival league gain an advantage, the USA decided to launch early. Not having secured any player contracts, the league imported teams from Europe, Brazil, and Uruguay to represent the franchise cities. English team Sunderland A.F.C. was brought in to play as the Royal Canadians. [1] [2]

The Royals opened the 1967 season away against the San Francisco Golden Gate Gales [a] with a 6–1 loss on May 28, [3] but won their home opener against the Dallas Tornado [b] 4–1 on June 7. [4] The Royals finished the season in fifth place with a record of 3 wins, 5 ties and 4 losses while drawing an average home league attendance of 7,019. [5]

Following the 1967 season, the USA merged with the National Professional Soccer League to form the North American Soccer League. As part of the new league's efforts to consolidate teams and cities, the owner of the San Francisco Golden Gate Gales franchise, George Fleharty, yielded the San Francisco Bay Area to the NPSL Oakland Clippers and bought a controlling interest in the Vancouver Royal Canadians, renaming the team Vancouver Royals. [6] [7] Bobby Robson was originally reported to have been named manager of the new merged team which was to include players both the Royals and Gales organizations had signed between the end of the 1967 season and merger. [8] However, Ferenc Puskás who had been hired to manage the San Francisco franchise was later named by the owner as head coach. [9] Robson, who took over as coach of Fulham F.C. in January 1968, later sued the team for breach of contract. [10]

The Royals finished the 1968 NASL season in last place in the Pacific Division with 12 wins 5 ties and 15 losses. The team averaged a home attendance of 6,197. [5] The Royals were one of 12 teams that folded between the 1968 and 1969 NASL seasons. [11]

Coaches

Year-by-year

League
season		Team
season		Regular seasonPositionPlayoffsDomestic CupTop Scorer
LeaguePWLDGFGAPtsDiv.OverallPlayerGoals
1967 1967 USA 123542028115th9thout of playoffs— Flag of Scotland.svg George Herd 3
1968 1968 NASL 321215551601364th13thout of playoffs— Flag of Luxembourg.svg Henry Klein 20

Note: Only regular season goals counted

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The Dutch team ADO Den Haag had been brought over to represent San Francisco
  2. ↑ Dallas was represented by Scottish tean Dundee United F.C.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North American Soccer League</span> Defunct major soccer league in the United States and Canada

The North American Soccer League (NASL) was the top-level major professional soccer league in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984. It is considered the first soccer league to be successful on a national scale in the United States. The league final was called the Soccer Bowl from 1975 to 1983 and the Soccer Bowl Series in its final year, 1984. The league was headed by Commissioner Phil Woosnam from 1969 to 1983. The NASL laid the foundations for soccer in the United States that helped lead to the country hosting the 1994 FIFA World Cup and setting up Major League Soccer (MLS) in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Soccer Association</span> A professional soccer league

The United Soccer Association (USA) was a professional soccer league featuring teams based in the United States and Canada. The league survived only one season before merging with the National Professional Soccer League to form the North American Soccer League. Every team in the league was actually an imported European or South American club, that was then outfitted with a "local" name. Dick Walsh served as the commissioner.

The Los Angeles Wolves were an American professional soccer team that played for two seasons. In 1967 they played in the United Soccer Association, finishing as champions, and in 1968 they were founding members of the North American Soccer League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cleveland Stokers</span> Soccer club

The Cleveland Stokers were a soccer team based in Cleveland, Ohio that played in the United Soccer Association during 1967 and the North American Soccer League in 1968. Their home field was Cleveland Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kansas City Spurs</span> Defunct American soccer club

The Kansas City Spurs were an American professional soccer team who played in the North American Soccer League, based in Kansas City, Missouri. They played their home games at Kansas City Municipal Stadium, former home of the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Athletics, and Kansas City Royals. The club was previously known as the Chicago Spurs of the National Professional Soccer League but were relocated to Kansas City following the merger of the NPSL and the United Soccer Association to form the NASL in 1967. The Spurs won the NASL Championship in 1969 but were dissolved shortly after the 1970 NASL season. The club's colors were red and white.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baltimore Bays</span> Soccer club

The Baltimore Bays were a professional soccer team based in Baltimore, Maryland founded in 1967 as one of the ten charter members of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). When the NPSL and the rival United Soccer Association (USA) merged in 1968 to form the North American Soccer League (NASL), the team moved to the new league. The Bays played its home matches at Memorial Stadium during its first two seasons and moved to Kirk Field, a high school football stadium, in 1969. The team folded at the conclusion of the 1969 NASL season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boston Beacons</span> Defunct American soccer club

The Boston Beacons were an American soccer professional team that competed in the North American Soccer League (NASL) in 1968. The team was based in Boston and played their home games at Fenway Park. Originally intended to be a charter member of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) in 1967, the team played its first and only season in the 1968 NASL following the merger of the NPSL and rival United Soccer Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicago Mustangs (1967–68)</span> Defunct American soccer club

The Chicago Mustangs were an American professional soccer team based out of Chicago, Illinois, and were a charter member of the United Soccer Association (USA) in 1967. When the USA and rival National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) merged in 1968 to form the North American Soccer League (NASL), the team moved to the new league. The Mustangs played its home matches at Comiskey Park. The team folded at the conclusion of the 1968 NASL season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Detroit Cougars (soccer)</span> Former American soccer team

The Detroit Cougars were an American professional soccer team based out of Detroit, Michigan that was a charter member of the United Soccer Association (USA) in 1967. When the USA and rival National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) merged in 1968 to form the North American Soccer League (NASL), the team moved to the new league. The Cougars played its home matches at the University of Detroit Stadium for the 1967 USA season and at Tiger Stadium for the 1968 NASL season, except when scheduling conflicts with the Detroit Tigers forced the team to play at the University of Detroit Stadium. The team folded at the conclusion of the 1968 NASL season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Diego Toros</span> Soccer club

The San Diego Toros were a professional soccer team based in San Diego, California. Founded in 1967 as the Los Angeles Toros, the team was one of the ten charter members of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). When the NPSL and the rival United Soccer Association (USA) merged in 1968 to form the North American Soccer League (NASL), the team was relocated to San Diego as a member of the new league. While in Los Angeles, the team played its home matches at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and at Balboa Stadium when it moved to San Diego. The team folded at the conclusion of the 1968 NASL season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toronto Falcons (1967–1968)</span> Football club

The Toronto Falcons were a soccer team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They played only two years, 1967 in the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) and 1968 in the North American Soccer League (NASL). Their home field was Varsity Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philadelphia Spartans</span> Soccer club

The Philadelphia Spartans were a soccer team that was a charter member of the non-FIFA sanctioned National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) in 1967. Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania they played their home games at Temple Stadium in North Philadelphia and were owned by Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney. Having incurred losses of $500,000, the Spartans folded when the NPSL merged with the rival United Soccer Association to form the North American Soccer League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicago Spurs</span> American soccer club

Chicago Spurs were an American soccer team that was a charter member of the non-FIFA sanctioned National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) in 1967. The team was based in Chicago, Illinois and played their home games at the Soldier Field. When the NPSL merged with the rival United Soccer Association to form the North American Soccer League, the team moved and became the Kansas City Spurs, leaving the Chicago market to the Chicago Mustangs

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Francisco Golden Gate Gales</span> American soccer club in 1967

The San Francisco Golden Gate Gales were an American soccer team that played in the United Soccer Association (USA). The team was based in San Francisco, California and played their home games at the Candlestick Park. The team folded when the USA merged with the National Professional Soccer League to form the North American Soccer League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toronto City</span> Defunct soccer club in Canada

Toronto City was a Canadian soccer team based in Toronto, Ontario. Between 1961 and 1967, teams using this name competed in both the Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League and the United Soccer Association.

Peter Dinsdale was a football player and coach. He played 239 times for Huddersfield Town and was head coach of the Canadian national soccer team for qualifying for the 1970 FIFA World Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boston Shamrock Rovers</span> Defunct American soccer club

Boston Shamrock Rovers were an American soccer team that competed in the United Soccer Association (USA) league in 1967. The team was based in Lynn, Massachusetts and played their home games at the Manning Bowl. The team folded when the USA merged with the National Professional Soccer League to form the North American Soccer League.

The 1968 North American Soccer League season was the 56th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States and Canada, and the 1st with a national first-division league with the inaugural season of the NASL.

The 1967 Vancouver Royal Canadians season was the first season in the history of the Vancouver Royal Canadians soccer club. The club played in the United Soccer Association (USA), a league that used clubs from Europe and South America to represent American and Canadian cities. First division Football League side Sunderland A.F.C, who finished 17th in the 1966–67 Football League, was the club that represented Vancouver in the USA. The club played its home games at Empire Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The 1968 Vancouver Royal Canadians season was the second season in the history of the Vancouver Royal Canadians soccer club. The club played in the North American Soccer League (NASL) at Empire Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia.

References

  1. ↑ Seese, D.J. (2015). The Rebirth of Professional Soccer in America: The Strange Days of the United Soccer Association. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN   9781442238954.
  2. ↑ Hannigan, Dave (May 31, 2017). "Summer of soccer: when Shamrock Rovers conquered America". The Irish Times. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  3. ↑ Jukich, roy (June 2, 1967). "Soccer Boss Knows Feeling". The Sun. p. 17. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  4. ↑ "North American Soccer League 1967". RSSSF . Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  5. 1 2 "North American Soccer League". RSSSF . Retrieved December 13, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Pro League To Operate 2 Divisions". The Vancouver Sun . January 5, 1968. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  7. ↑ "CSFA approves transfer move". The Leader-Post. January 22, 1968. p. 21. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  8. ↑ Jukich, Roy (January 3, 1968). "Robson Wins Coaching Duel". The Sun. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  9. ↑ Jukich, Roy (January 24, 1968). "Royals Soccer Boss Awaits Robson Deal". The Sun. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Royals Face Suit By Robson". The Sun. May 30, 1968. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  11. ↑ "Royals Operation Folds". The Phoenix. October 11, 1968. p. 23. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  12. ↑ East Side Story, Marino, Rick 2023,
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.